Session 7

Africana Spirituality - The Quest for Unity, Diversity, & Common Ground

Social, political, and economic pressures continue to provide an impetus for cohesion and dissolution within Africana contexts
Quest for cultural universals and particularities is an ongoing and - at times - contentious process
The religious realm is a site within which the search for elements that unify and separate peoples of African descent can productively take place
Meaningful contributions to this academic enterprise can be made by scholars, public intellectuals, and people of good will
While adherence to one or more traditions within the spectrum of Africana spiritualities is not requisite, an abiding respect for it is
Familiarity with Africana spirituality is one means of gaining an appreciation for the diversity that obtains in the religious faith and praxis of the world’s various cultures
It also casts light on the hidden diversity that often exists within any single faith or cultural tradition

Africana Faith and Life at the University of Notre Dame

Creation of an Africana Studies Department ensures that faith and other aspects of African Diasporan life are part of the larger conversation about the nature of God, self. society, and nature fundamental to a Catholic liberal arts education
African and African American cosmologies, theologies, and liturgical practices - Catholic and other - figure prominently in the larger ecology of Africana spiritualities globally
An education that is both Catholic and liberal must expose students to the dynamics that generate culturally distinct faith traditions - particularly those found in Africa and the African Diaspora - given the Christian gospel's enduring message of hope and the challenges of 21st century life

Africana Spirituality &

the American Landscape

This class is an invitation to do further study - both academic and experiential - on Africana spirituality in North America
Race, religion, and politics have been, and likely will remain, pivotal issues in American life
A flourishing American democracy requires an informed populace knowledgeable, tolerant, and appreciative of its diverse religious landscape

Africana Faith --

Global Implications

Increased familiarity with the world’s religious landscape is essential for the creation of a just and sustainable global community

Discovery of points where Africana and other global faith traditions intersect can lead to the reduction of tensions caused by competing religious claims and the formation of inclusive and nurturing communities

Citation: administrator. (2006, September 05). Session 7. Retrieved November 23, 2009, from Notre Dame OpenCourseWare Web site: http://ocw.nd.edu/africana-studies/faith-and-the-african-american-experience/session-7.